Jockey Chantal Sutherland earned her second grade II victory in as many days when she guided 29-1 outsider Pretty Unusual to win the El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita Jan. 17. Favored Stardom Bound was second.

With fresh starts to the new season, Stardom Bound and Justwhistledixie will each try to get their 4-year-old campaigns off on the right foot, as they face each other in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. I) Jan. 17

Two-time grade I winner Country Star looks to rebound from a disappointing sophomore campaign when she makes her 4-year-old debut in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 18 at Santa Anita. A full field of a dozen 4-year-old fillies are entered in the 1 1/16-mile event on Pro-Ride.

Grade I winners Romance Is Diane and Tough Tiz's Sis, the respective first two finishers in last month's Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II), tangle once more in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.

Bobby Frankel, closing in on Charlie Whittingham's career record for victories at Santa Anita, has two horses entered in the $150,000 El Encino (gr. II) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, Juddmonte Farms' Cantabria and Sugar Shake, owned and bred by Frank Stronach.

Irish-bred Three Degrees, one of the West Coast's leading 3-year-old fillies on turf last year, is set to make her main track debut on Sunday in Santa Anita's $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles.

Girl Warrior battled along the inside to narrowly hold off the odds-on choice A.P. Adventure by a head in her stakes debut for trainer Neil Drysdale, winning the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-old fillies Sunday at Santa Anita Park.

Bare Necessities is scheduled to make her first start since Nov. 9 in Sunday's $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 mile on the Santa Anita dirt. According to her rider, that's been the plan all along.

Although multiple grade I winner Affluent will be a deserving morning-line favorite in Sunday's grade II El Encino Stakes, it wouldn't be prudent to discount Graceful Cat's chances in the 1 1/16-mile event for 4-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Gary Stevens 1999 two-year-old filly champion Chilukki set leisurely fractions and turned the tables on 3-5 favorite Spain in the $147,000 El Encino Stakes, winning by 2 1/2 lengths. Spain, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff at odds of 55-1, had upset 7-10 favorite Chilukki in the seven-furlong La Brea Stakes last Dec. 30. Chilukki took command at once in the grade II El Encino and completed 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.55, with splits of :24.17, :48.39, 1:11.95 and 1:36.17 for the mile.

The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Breeders' Cup Distaff champion Spain will be looking to add the second leg of the La Cañada series to her resume when the gate loads Sunday for the grade II, $150,000 El Encino Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile event for 4-year-old fillies. The La Cañada Series concludes Sunday, Feb. 11 with the $200,000 La Cañada Stakes.